Fluorination of aromatic ring systems

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to reagents and methods useful in the synthesis of aryl fluorides, for example, in the preparation of  18 F labeled radiotracers. The reagents and methods provided herein may be used to access a broad range of compounds, including aromatic compounds, heteroaromatic compounds, amino acids, nucleotides, and synthetic compounds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/125,209, filed Jul 6, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,604,213, which is a National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of International Application No. PCT/US2009/061308, having an International Filing Date of Oct. 20, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Applications Ser. Nos. 61/107,156, filed on Oct. 21, 2008, and 61/236,037, filed on Aug. 21, 2009, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention pursuant to Grant No. CHE-0717562 awarded by the National Science Foundation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to reagents and methods useful in the synthesis of aryl fluorides, for example, in the preparation of ¹⁸F labeled radiotracers. The reagents and methods provided herein may be used to access a broad range of compounds, including aromatic compounds, heteroaromatic compounds, amino acids, nucleotides, and synthetic compounds.

BACKGROUND

Aryl fluorides are structural moieties in natural products as well as a number of therapeutically important compounds, including positron emission tomography (PET) tracers and pharmaceuticals. Therefore methods and reagents for producing such aryl fluorides, for example efficient methods for producing aryl fluorides, are desirable.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are methods of preparing substituted aryl and heteroaryl ring systems using diaryliodonium compounds and intermediates. For example, diaryliodonium salts and diaryliodonium fluorides, as provided herein, can undergo decomposition to prepare aryl fluorides.

For example, provided herein is a method for making a compound of Formula (1): Ar²—X  1 wherein Ar² is an aryl or heteroaryl ring system; and X is a moiety wherein the pKa of the acid H—X is less than 12. In one embodiment, the method includes reacting in a polar solvent a compound MX, wherein M is a counter ion and X is as defined in Formula (1), and a compound of Formula (2):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; Y is a leaving group; and Ar² and X are as defined above.

Following reaction, the polar solvent can be removed from the reaction mixture and the remaining mixture can be combined with a nonpolar solvent and heated. In some embodiments, the contaminant salts in the solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) in the polar solvent can be removed by chromatography prior to heating. For example, the contaminant salts can be removed by size exclusion, gel filtration, reverse phase, or other chromatographic method prior to heating.

In another embodiment, a solution comprising a nonpolar solvent, a compound MX, and a compound of Formula (2) can be heated to provide a compound of Formula (1).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating. The filtration step can remove any insoluble material (e.g., insoluble salts) that remain in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the solvent can be removed from the filtrate prior to heating (i.e., the residue can be heated neat).

In further embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating, the nonpolar solvent can be removed (e.g., by evaporation), and the heating of the sample can be performed in a different solvent.

In some embodiments, the contaminant salts in the solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) in the nonpolar solvent can be removed by chromatography prior to heating. For example, the contaminant salts can be removed by size exclusion, gel filtration, reverse phase, or other chromatographic method prior to heating.

In some embodiments, X can be chosen from halide, aryl carboxylate, alkyl carboxylate, phosphate, phosphonate, phosphonite, azide, thiocyanate, cyanate, phenoxide, triflate, trifluoroethoxide, thiolates, and stabilized enolates. For example, X can be chosen from fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, triflate, trifluoroacetate, benzoate, acetate, phenoxide, trifluoroethoxide, cyanate, azide, thiocyanate, thiolates, phosphates, and stabilized enolates. In some embodiments, X is fluoride. In some embodiments, X is a radioactive isotope, for example, X can be a radioactive isotope of fluoride (e.g., ¹⁸F).

The methods described herein can be used to prepare fluorinated aryl or heteroaryl ring systems (e.g., a radiolabeled fluorinated aryl or heteroaryl ring system). For example, provided herein is a method of preparing a compound of Formula (3): Ar²—F  3 wherein Ar² is an aryl or heteroaryl ring system. In one embodiment, the method includes reacting in a polar solvent a compound MF, wherein M is a counter ion, and a compound of Formula (2), as described above. Following reaction, the polar solvent can be removed from the reaction mixture and the remaining mixture can be combined with a nonpolar solvent and heated. In another embodiment, a solution comprising a nonpolar solvent, a compound MF, and a compound of Formula (2) can be heated to provide a compound of Formula (3).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating. The filtration step can remove any insoluble material (e.g., insoluble salts) that remain in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the solvent can be removed from the filtrate prior to heating (i.e., the residue can be heated neat).

In further embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating, the nonpolar solvent can be removed (e.g., by evaporation), and the heating of the sample can be performed in a different solvent.

Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system. For example, Ar¹—H can be more easily oxidized than benzene. In some embodiments, the moiety Ar¹ can be substituted with at least one substituent having a Hammett σ_(p) value of less than zero. For example, the substituent can be chosen from: —(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —(C₁-C₁₀)haloalkyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkynyl, —O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In some embodiments, Ar¹ can be:

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ are independently chosen from: H, —(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —(C₁-C₁₀)haloalkyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkynyl, —O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, or two or more of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ come together to form a fused aryl or heteroaryl ring system.

Ar² is an aryl or heteroaryl ring system. In some embodiments, Ar² is chosen from a phenylalanine derivative, tyrosine derivative, typtophan derivative, histidine derivative, and estradiol derivative. In some embodiments, Ar² is chosen from:

wherein each of P¹, P² and P⁶ are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, P⁴, and P⁷ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group.

Also provided herein is a method of making a compound of Formula (6):

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. In one embodiment, the method includes reacting in a polar solvent a compound MF, wherein M is a counter ion, and a compound of Formula (7):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; Y is a leaving group; and P¹, P², P³, P⁴ and P⁵ are as defined above. Following reaction, the polar solvent can be removed from the reaction mixture and the remaining mixture can be combined with a nonpolar solvent and heated. In another embodiment, a solution comprising a nonpolar solvent, a compound MF, and a compound of Formula (7) can be heated to provide a compound of Formula (6).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (7) can be filtered prior to heating. The filtration step can remove any insoluble material (e.g., insoluble salts) that remain in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the solvent can be removed from the filtrate prior to heating (i.e., the residue can be heated neat).

In further embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (7) can be filtered prior to heating, the nonpolar solvent can be removed (e.g., by evaporation), and the heating of the sample can be performed in a different solvent.

In the methods described above, Y can be any leaving group, for example, Y can be, for example, triflate, mesylate, nonaflate, hexaflate, tosylate, nosylate, brosylate, perfluoroalkyl sulfonate, tetraphenylborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, tetrafluoroborate, perchlorate, perfluoroalkylcarboxylate, chloride, bromide, or iodide.

M can vary depending on the nature of the X moiety. In some embodiments, M can be potassium, sodium, cesium, complexes of lithium, sodium, potassium, or cesium with cryptands or crown ethers, tetrasubstituted ammonium cations, or phosphonium cations.

The nonpolar solvent used in the methods described herein can be, for example, benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethyl benzene, carbon tetrachloride, hexane, cyclohexane, fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the nonpolar solvent comprises benzene. In some embodiments, the nonpolar solvent comprises toluene.

The polar solvent used in the methods described herein can be, for example, acetonitrile, acetone, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, 1,2-difluorobenzene, benzotrifluoride or mixtures thereof.

Heating of the reaction mixture can include heating at a temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 250° C. In some embodiments, the heating can occur for from about 1 second to about 25 minutes. In some embodiments, the heating is accomplished by a flash pyrolysis method, a conventional heating method, or by a microwave method.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (2) is chosen from:

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. For example, the compound of Formula (2) can be:

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (2) can be:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (2) can be:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (2) is chosen from:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (2) is chosen from:

wherein each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) is chosen from:

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) is chosen from:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) is chosen from:

wherein each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be:

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. For example, the compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (7) can be:

For example, the compound of Formula (7) can be:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (6) can be:

Also provided herein is a method for making a compound of Formula (1) that can include heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent and a compound of Formula (5):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; and Ar² and X are as defined for Formula (1). In some embodiments, the reaction mixture is filtered (i.e., to remove insoluble material) prior to heating. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture is filtered and the nonpoloar solvent is removed and the resulting residue is dissolved in a polar solvent prior to heating. In some embodiments, X is F (e.g., ¹⁸F).

Also provided herein is a method for making a compound of Formula (3) that can include heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent and a compound of Formula (4):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; and Ar² is as defined for Formula (3). In some embodiments, the reaction mixture is filtered (i.e., to remove insoluble material) prior to heating. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture is filtered and the nonpoloar solvent is removed and the resulting residue is dissolved in a polar solvent prior to heating.

Further provided herein is a compound of Formula (8):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (8) is:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (8) is:

A compound of Formula (6) is also provided. The compound can be prepared using any of the methods described herein.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the decomposition of MTEB-I-F in acetonitrile at 90° C.

FIG. 2 shows the decomposition of MTEB-I-F in benzene at 90° C.

FIG. 3 details the ¹H NMR of 6-Fluoro-L-DOPA

FIG. 4 details the ¹⁹F NMR of 6-Fluoro-L-DOPA.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. All patents, applications, published applications, and other publications are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term herein, those in this section prevail unless stated otherwise.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In general, the term “aryl” includes groups having 5 to 14 carbon atoms which form a ring structure and have an aromatic character, including 5- and 6-membered single-ring aromatic groups, such as benzene and phenyl. Furthermore, the term “aryl” includes polycyclic aryl groups, e.g., tricyclic, bicyclic, such as naphthalene and anthracene.

The term “heteroaryl” includes groups having 5 to 14 atoms which form a ring structure and have an aromatic character, including 5- and 6-membered single-ring aromatic groups, that have from one to four heteroatoms, for example, pyrrole, furan, thiophene, thiazole, isothiaozole, imidazole, triazole, tetrazole, pyrazole, oxazole, isooxazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine, and pyrimidine, and the like. Furthermore, the term “heteroaryl” includes polycyclic heteroaryl groups, e.g., tricyclic, bicyclic, such as benzoxazole, benzodioxazole, benzothiazole, benzoimidazole, benzothiophene, methylenedioxyphenyl, quinoline, isoquinoline, napthridine, indole, benzofuran, purine, benzofuran, deazapurine, indazole, or indolizine.

The term “substituted” means that an atom or group of atoms formally replaces hydrogen as a “substituent” attached to another group. For aryl and heteroaryl groups, the term “substituted”, unless otherwise indicated, refers to any level of substitution, namely mono, di, tri, tetra, or penta substitution, where such substitution is permitted. The substituents are independently selected, and substitution may be at any chemically accessible position.

The compounds provided herein may encompass various stereochemical forms and tautomers. The compounds also encompasses diastereomers as well as optical isomers, e.g. mixtures of enantiomers including racemic mixtures, as well as individual enantiomers and diastereomers, which arise as a consequence of structural asymmetry in certain compounds. Separation of the individual isomers or selective synthesis of the individual isomers is accomplished by application of various methods which are well known to practitioners in the art.

The term “electron rich”, as used herein, refers to an aryl or heteroaryl ring system which is more easily oxidized than benzene. For example the aryl or heteroaryl ring system may be substituted with one or more substituents having a Hammett σ_(p) value of less than zero.

The term “fluorine” unless explicitly stated otherwise includes all fluorine isotopes. Multiple fluorine isotopes are known, however, only ¹⁹F is stable. The radioisotope ¹⁸F has a half-life of 109.8 minutes and emits positrons during radioactive decay. The relative amount of ¹⁸F present at a designated site in a compound of this disclosure will depend upon a number of factors including the isotopic purity of ¹⁸F labeled reagents used to make the compound, the efficiency of incorporation of ¹⁸F in the various synthesis steps used to prepare the compound, and the length of time since the ¹⁸F has been produced. When a position is designated specifically as ¹⁸F in the methods and compounds of the present disclosure, the position is understood to have at least about 0.01%, at least about 0.1%, at least about 1%, at least about 2%, at least about 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 55%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, or at least about 85% ¹⁸F incorporation at that site.

Methods of Preparing Substituted Aryl and Heteroaryl Ring Systems

Provided herein are methods of preparing substituted aryl and heteroaryl ring systems using diaryliodonium compounds and intermediates. For example, diaryliodonium salts and diaryliodonium fluorides, as provided herein, can undergo decomposition to prepare an aryl fluoride.

For example, provided herein is a method for making a compound of Formula (1): Ar²—X  1

wherein Ar² is an aryl or heteroaryl ring system; and X is a moiety wherein the pKa of the acid H—X is less than 12. In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (1) can be prepared as shown in Scheme 1.

In some embodiments, the method can include reacting in a polar solvent a compound MX, wherein M is a counter ion and X is as defined in Formula (1), and a compound of Formula (2):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; Y is a leaving group; and Ar² and X are as defined above in Formula (1). The polar solvent can then be removed from the reaction mixture. The remaining mixture can then be combined with a nonpolar solvent and heated to produce a compound of Formula (1).

In some embodiments, the method can include heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent, a compound MX, and a compound of Formula (2).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating. The filtration step can remove any insoluble material (e.g., insoluble salts) that remain in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the solvent can be removed from the filtrate prior to heating (i.e., the residue can be heated neat).

In further embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating, the nonpolar solvent can be removed (e.g., by evaporation), and the heating of the sample can be performed in a different solvent.

In some embodiments, contaminant salts are removed from the solution of the reaction mixture of MX and a compound of Formula (2) in the polar or nonpolar solution by chromatography. For example, the contaminant salts can be removed by size exclusion, gel filtration, reverse phase, or other chromatographic method prior to heating.

Substituted aryls and heteroaryls which are prepared using the methods described herein can have an X moiety which includes any moiety in which the pKa of H—X (i.e., the conjugate acid of X) is less than about 12. In some cases, X is a radioactive isotope (e.g., ¹⁸F, ¹²³I, ¹³¹I, and compounds having ³²P and ³³P). In some embodiments, X can be chosen from halide, aryl carboxylate, alkyl carboxylate, phosphate, phosphonate, phosphonite, azide, thiocyanate, cyanate, phenoxide, triflate, trifluoroethoxide, thiolates, and stabilized enolates. For example, X can be fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, trifluoroacetate, benzoate, and acetate. In some embodiments, X is fluoride. In some embodiments, is a radioactive isotope of fluoride (e.g., ¹⁸F).

Y can be any suitable leaving group. In some embodiments, Y is a weakly coordinating anion (i.e., an anion that coordinates only weakly with iodine). For example, Y can be the conjugate base of a strong acid, for example, any anion for which the pKa of the conjugate acid (H—Y) is less than about 1. For example, Y can be triflate, mesylate, nonaflate, hexaflate, toluene sulfonate (tosylate), nitrophenyl sulfonate (nosylate), bromophenyl sulfonate (brosylate), perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (e.g., perfluoro C₂₋₁₀ alkyl sulfonate), tetraphenylborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, perfluoroalkylcarboxylate, tetrafluoroborate, perchlorate, hexafluorostibate, hexachlorostibate, chloride, bromide, or iodide. In some embodiments, a slightly more basic leaving group such as acetate or benzoate may be used.

The counter ion M can be any suitable cation for the desired X. The choice of the source of X, and accordingly M, is readily within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, M can be chosen from an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and transition metal salts such as, for example, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc salts. Metal cations may also be complexed to cryptands or crown ethers to enhance their solubility and to labilize the X moiety. M can also include organic salts made from quaternized amines derived from, for example, N,N′ dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, meglumine (N-methylglucamine) and procaine. In some embodiments, M can be a lithium, sodium, potassium, or cesium with cryptands or crown ethers, a tetrasubstituted ammonium cation, or phosphonium cation. When X is fluoride, the choice of fluoride source is also readily within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. A variety of fluoride sources can be used in the preparation of the fluorinated aryl and heteroaryl compounds as provided herein, including but not limited to NaF, KF, CsF, tetrabutylammonium fluoride, and tetramethylammonium fluoride. In certain instances the choice of fluoride source will depend on the functionality present on the compound of Formula (2).

The methods described above can be useful in the preparation of fluorinated aryl and heteroaryl ring systems. For example, the methods can be used to prepare a compound of Formula (3): Ar²—F  3 wherein Ar² is an aryl or heteroaryl ring system. In particular, the methods can be used to prepare radiolabeled fluorinated aryl and heteroaryl ring systems (e.g., PET radiotracers). In some embodiments, the method can include reacting in a polar solvent a compound MF and a compound of Formula (2). The polar solvent can then be removed from the reaction mixture. The remaining mixture can then be combined with a nonpolar solvent and heated to produce a compound of Formula (3).

In some embodiments, the method can include heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent, a compound MF, and a compound of Formula (2).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating. The filtration step can remove any insoluble material (e.g., insoluble salts) that remain in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the solvent can be removed from the filtrate prior to heating (i.e., the residue can be heated neat).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (2) can be filtered prior to heating, the nonpolar solvent can be removed (e.g., by evaporation), and the heating of the sample can be performed in a different solvent.

In some embodiments, contaminant salts are removed from the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (2) by chromatography. For example, the contaminant salts can be removed by size exclusion, gel filtration, reverse phase, or other chromatographic method prior to heating.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (3) can be a compound of Formula (6):

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. In some embodiments, the method can include reacting in a polar solvent a compound MF and a compound of Formula (7):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; Y is a leaving group; and P¹, P², P³, P⁴ and P⁵ are as defined in Formula (6). The polar solvent can then be removed from the reaction mixture. The remaining mixture can then be combined with a nonpolar solvent and heated to produce a compound of Formula (6).

In some embodiments, the method can include heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent, a compound MF, and a compound of Formula (7).

In some embodiments, the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (7) can be filtered prior to heating. The filtration step can remove any insoluble material (e.g., insoluble salts) that remain in the reaction mixture. In some embodiments, the solvent can be removed from the filtrate prior to heating (i.e., the residue can be heated neat).

In some embodiments, contaminant salts are removed from the nonpolar solution of the reaction mixture of MF and a compound of Formula (7) by chromatography. For example, the contaminant salts can be removed by size exclusion, gel filtration, reverse phase, or other chromatographic method prior to heating.

The compound of Formula (6) can be, for example,

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (6) is:

Accordingly, the compound of Formula (7) can be, for example:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (7) can be:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (7) can be:

The moiety Ar¹ can be an electron-rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system. For example, in some embodiments, Ar¹—H is more easily oxidized than benzene. In some embodiments, Ar¹ can be substituted with at least one substituent having a Hammett σ_(p) value of less than zero (see, for example, “A survey of Hammett substituent constants and resonance and field parameters”, Corwin. Hansch, A. Leo, R. W. Taft Chem. Rev., 1991, 91(2), pp 165-195). For example, Ar¹ can be substituted with at least one of —(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —(C₁-C₁₀)haloalkyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkynyl, —O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In some embodiments, Ar¹ is:

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ are independently chosen from: H, —(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —(C₁-C₁₀)haloalkyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkynyl, —O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, or two or more of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ come together to form a fused aryl or heteroaryl ring system.

In some embodiments, Ar¹ is the same as Ar². In some embodiments, Ar¹ is more easily oxidized than Ar².

In some embodiments, Ar¹ can be substituted with a solid support. A “solid support” may be any suitable solid-phase support which is insoluble in any solvents to be used in the process but which can be covalently bound (e.g., to Ar¹ or to an optional linker). Examples of suitable solid supports include polymers such as polystyrene (which may be block grafted, for example with polyethylene glycol), polyacrylamide, or polypropylene or glass or silicon coated with such a polymer. The solid support may be in the form of small discrete particles such as beads or pins, or as a coating on the inner surface of a reaction vessel, for example a cartridge or a microfabricated vessel. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0092441.

In some embodiments, the solid support is covalently bound to Ar¹ through the use of a linker. A “linker” can be any suitable organic group which serves to space the Ar¹ from the solid support structure so as to maximize reactivity. For example, a linker can include a C₁₋₂₀ alkyl or a C₁₋₂₀ alkoxy, attached to the solid support, for example, a resin by an amide ether or a sulphonamide bond for ease of synthesis. The linker may also be a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker. Examples of such linkers are well known to those skilled in the art of solid-phase chemistry.

The methods described herein can be used with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl ring systems. As is well understood by one of skill in the art, to carry out efficient nucleophilic substitution of the aryl and heteroaryl ring systems described herein, it is necessary that Ar¹ be more easily oxidized (i.e., more electron rich) than Ar². Within that boundary, however, the Ar² moiety can be any aryl or heteroaryl ring system in which substitution by X (e.g., F such as ¹⁸F) is desired. For example, Ar² can be a phenylalanine, tyrosine, typtophan, or histidine derivative, and an estradiol derivative. In some embodiments, Ar² can be chosen from:

wherein each of P¹, P² and P⁶ are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; and each of P³, P⁴, P⁵ and P⁷ are independently an oxygen protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group. In some embodiments, Ar² is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system.

Protecting groups can be a temporary substituent which protects a potentially reactive functional group from undesired chemical transformations. The choice of the particular protecting group employed is well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art. A number of considerations can determine the choice of protecting group including, but not limited to, the functional group being protected, other functionality present in the molecule, reaction conditions at each step of the synthetic sequence, other protecting groups present in the molecule, functional group tolerance to conditions required to remove the protecting group, and reaction conditions for the thermal decomposition of the compounds provided herein. The field of protecting group chemistry has been reviewed (Greene, T. W.; Wuts, P. G. M. Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2.sup.nd ed.; Wiley: New York, 1991).

A nitrogen protecting group can be any temporary substituent which protects an amine moiety from undesired chemical transformations. Examples of such protecting groups include, but are not limited to allylamine, benzylamines (e.g., bezylamine, p-methoxybenzylamine, 2,4-dimethoxybenzylamine, and tritylamine), acetylamide, trichloroacetammide, trifluoroacetamide, pent-4-enamide, phthalimides, carbamates (e.g., methyl carbamate, t-butyl carbamate, benzyl carbamate, allyl carbamates, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl carbamate, and 9-fluorenylmethyl carbamate), imines, and sulfonamides (e.g., benzene sulfonamide, p-toluenesulfonamide, and p-nitrobenzenesulfonamide).

An oxygen protecting group can be any temporary substituent which protects a hydroxyl moiety from undesired chemical transformations. Examples of such protecting groups include, but are not limited to esters (e.g., acetyl, t-butyl carbonyl, and benzoyl), benzyl (e.g., benzyl, p-methoxybenzyl, and 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl, and trityl), carbonates (e.g., methyl carbonate, allyl carbonate, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl carbonate and benzyl carbonate) ketals, and acetals, and ethers.

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (2), as provided herein, can be chosen from:

wherein: each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an oxygen protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group, and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. For example, a compound of Formula (2) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (2) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (2) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (2) is chosen from:

In other embodiments, a compound of Formula (2) is chosen from:

wherein: each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group.

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be chosen from:

wherein each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; and each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group, and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. For examples, a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) can be chosen from:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) is chosen from:

wherein each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group.

A nonpolar solvent can be any solvent having a dielectric constant of less than about 10. For example, a nonpolar solvent can be chosen from benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethyl benzene, carbon tetrachloride, hexane, cyclohexane, fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the nonpolar solvent comprises benzene. In some embodiments, the nonpolar solvent comprises toluene. In some embodiments, the nonpolar solvent comprises cyclohexane. In some embodiments the nonpolar solvent is a mixture, for example a mixture of cyclohexane and toluene.

A polar solvent is a solvent having a dielectric constant greater than about 10. In some embodiments, the polar solvent is a polar aprotic solvent, such as acetonitrile, acetone, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, 1,2-difluorobenzene, benzotrifluoride, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the polar aprotic solvent is acetonitrile.

Heating can be accomplished by conventional means (e.g., heating bath, oven, heat gun, hot plate, Bunsen burner, heating mantle, and the like), by the use of a microwave, or by flash pyrolysis. Typically, the reaction mixture is heated at a temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 250° C. (e.g., between about 80° C. to about 200° C., 100° C. to about 200° C., about 120° C. to about 170° C., about 120° C. to about 160° C., about 120° C. to about 150° C., and about 130° C. to about 150° C.). In some embodiments, the reaction mixture is heated to about 140° C. Heating can occur for any time necessary to complete the reaction. For example, heating can occur for from about 1 second to about 25 minutes (e.g., about 2 seconds, about 5 seconds, about 10 seconds, about 30 seconds, about 1 minute, about 90 seconds, about 2 minutes, about 3 minutes, about 5 minutes, about 8 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 12 minutes, about 15 minutes, about 20 minutes, and about 24 minutes). In some embodiments, heating can occur for from about 1 second to about 15 minutes.

Further provided herein is a method of making a compound of Formula (1) that includes heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent and a compound of Formula (5):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; and Ar² and X are as defined for Formula (1). In some embodiments, the method can include filtering the mixture prior to heating. Filtering, as described above, can remove insoluble materials such as insoluble salts. In another embodiment, the method can include, prior to heating, filtering the mixture, removing the nonpolar solvent, and subsequently heating a solution of the remaining reaction mixture and a polar solvent.

In some embodiments, contaminant salts are removed from the nonpolar solution of a compound of Formula (5) by chromatography. For example, the contaminant salts can be removed by size exclusion, gel filtration, reverse phase, or other chromatographic method prior to heating.

As described above, the methods described herein can be used to prepare fluorinated (e.g., ¹⁸F) aryl and heteroaryl ring systems. Accordingly, further provided herein is a method for making a compound of Formula (3) that includes heating a mixture comprising a nonpolar solvent and a compound of Formula (4):

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; and Ar² is as defined for Formula (3). In some embodiments, the method can include filtering the mixture prior to heating. Filtering, as described above, can remove insoluble materials such as insoluble salts. In another embodiment, the method can include, prior to heating, filtering the mixture, removing the nonpolar solvent, and subsequently heating a solution of the remaining reaction mixture and a polar solvent.

In some embodiments, contaminant salts are removed from the nonpolar solution a compound of Formula (4) by chromatography. In some embodiments, a relatively mild chromatographic desalting technique is used. For example, size exclusion chromatography (also referred to as gel filtration) can provide a reliable means to separate diaryliodonium salts from the contaminating inorganic (e.g., sodium or potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide, or triflate) or organic (e.g., tetraalkylammonium, cryptand complexes of alkalai metal ions) salts that can contaminate radiochemical preparations. Removal of these contaminant salts can assist in increasing the yield of the radiofluorination of this substrate class.

In the methods described herein, a pressure tube or other reinforced closed system can be used in instances where the desired temperature is above the boiling point of the solvent utilized.

The reaction can be conducted in the presence of an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon. In some embodiments, steps are taken to remove oxygen and/or water from the reaction solvent and starting materials. This can be accomplished by a number of methods including distillation of solvents in the presence of agents that react with and/or sequester water and under an atmosphere of inert gas; and purging the reaction vessel with an inert gas.

The methods described herein can be used when MX (e.g., MF) is reacted in an amount ranging from about 1 picomole to about 10 millimoles (e.g., about 1 picomole to about 5 millimoles; about 1 picomole to about 1 millimole; about 1 picomole to about 500 micromoles; about 1 picomole to about 100 micromoles; about 1 picomole to about 50 micromoles; about 1 picomole to about 5 micromoles; about 1 picomole to about 1 micromole; about 1 picomole to about 500 nanomoles; about 1 picomole to about 100 nanomoles; about 1 picomole to about 50 nanomoles; about 1 picomole to about 5 nanomoles; about 1 picomole to about 1 nanomole; about 100 picomoles to about 10 millimoles; about 500 picomoles to about 10 millimoles; about 1 nanomole to about 10 millimoles; about 50 nanomoles to about 10 millimoles; about 100 nanomoles to about 10 millimoles; about 500 nanomoles to about 10 millimoles; about 1 micromole to about 10 millimoles; about 50 micromoles to about 10 millimoles; about 100 micromoles to about 10 millimoles; about 500 micromoles to about 10 millimoles and about 1 millimole to about 10 millimoles). In some embodiments, MX is reacted in the sample in an amount of less than about 10 millimoles. In many cases, the compound of Formula (2) is used in an excess when compared to the amount of MX present in the sample. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture having MX further contains additional compounds which may be present in an excess compared to MX. For example, the additional compounds may be present in more than one million fold excess compared to MX.

Compounds

Diaryliodonium compounds, for example, compound of Formula (2), (4), (7) and (8), are further provided herein. For example, a compound of Formula (8) is provided,

wherein Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl or heteroaryl ring system; each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group. In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (8) can be:

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula (8) can be:

The diaryliodonium compounds of Formula (2), (4) and (7) can be prepared from commercially available starting materials using various methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The method used for synthesizing the compounds will depend on the electronics and functionality present in of Ar². Potentially reactive functional groups present in Ar² can be masked using a protecting group prior to the synthesis of the diaryliodonium compound. The particular method employed for preparing the diaryliodonium compounds will be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the compounds can be made using the following generic reactions as shown in Scheme 2.

For compounds that bear sensitive functionality on the accepting group, organometallic reagents that feature more covalent (more stable) C-M bonds can be used. For example, organometallic compounds including tin, boron, and zinc. If there is no functional group incompatibility, more basic organometallic reagents (organolithium, Grignard, etc.) can be used to prepare the diaryliodonium salts.

Persons skilled in the art will be aware of variations of, and alternatives to, the processes described which allow the compounds defined herein to be obtained.

It will also be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that, within certain of the processes described, the order of the synthetic steps employed may be varied and will depend inter alia on factors such as the nature of other functional groups present in a particular substrate, the availability of key intermediates, and the protecting group strategy (if any) to be adopted. Clearly, such factors will also influence the choice of reagent for use in the said synthetic steps.

The skilled person will appreciate that the diaryliodonium compounds described could be made by methods other than those herein described, by adaptation of the methods herein described and/or adaptation of methods known in the art, for example US 2007/0092441, or using standard textbooks such as “Comprehensive Organic Transformations—A Guide to Functional Group Transformations”, R C Larock, Wiley-VCH (1999 or later editions) and Science of Synthesis, Volume 31a, 2007 (Houben-Weyl, Thieme)

It is to be understood that the synthetic transformation methods mentioned herein are exemplary only and they may be carried out in various different sequences in order that the desired compounds can be efficiently assembled. The skilled chemist will exercise his judgment and skill as to the most efficient sequence of reactions for synthesis of a given target compound.

As exemplified in the examples below, certain diaryliodonium fluorides can be prepared by H₂SO₄ catalyzed electrophilic aromatic substitution of the aromatic fluorine precursor with ArI(OAc)₂, followed by ion exchange. The desired diaryliodonium fluoride is formed by reacting the resulting diaryliodonium salt with a fluoride source, such as tetrabutylammonium fluoride, as illustrated in Scheme 3 shown below.

Diaryliodonium fluorides can also be prepared by the reaction of the corresponding tributylstannanyl derivative of the aromatic fluorine precursor with p-MeOPhI(OH)(OTs), followed by ion exchange, and reaction of the resulting diaryliodonium salt with a fluoride source, such as tetrabutylammonium fluoride, as illustrated in Scheme 4.

The choice of fluoride source is readily within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. A variety of fluoride sources can be used in the preparation of the diaryliodonium fluorides as provided herein, including but not limited to NaF, KF, CsF, tetrabutylammonium fluoride, and tetramethylammonium fluoride. In certain instances the choice of fluoride source will depend on the functionality present on the aromatic fluoride precursor.

Further provided are compounds of Formula (1) and Formula (3) which are prepared by the methods described herein. For example, a compound of Formula (6) is provided, wherein the compound is prepared as described above.

Kit

Also provided herein are kits and devices. Typically, a kit or device is used to prepare and/or administer a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) as provided herein. In some embodiments, the kit or device is used to prepare a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) and incorporates a chromatographic desalting step prior to heating the eluted solution comprising the reaction product of MX and a compound of Formula (2). In some embodiments, a kit or device can include one or more delivery systems, e.g., for a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3), and directions for use of the kit (e.g., instructions for administering to a subject). In some embodiments, the kit or device can include a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (3) and a label that indicates that the contents are to be administered to a subject prior to PET imaging.

EXAMPLES

General Methods

Tetramethylammonium fluoride (TMAF, Aldrich) and diphenyliodonium nitrate were dried at 60-80° C. in a drying pistol (charged with P₂O₅) under dynamic vacuum for one week. Hexabutylditin and tributyltin chloride (Aldrich) were distilled into flame-dried storage tubes under dry nitrogen. Acetonitrile and acetonitrile-d₃ were refluxed with P₂O₅, benzene and benzene-d₆ were refluxed with CaH₂, overnight and distilled directly into flame-dried storage tubes under dry nitrogen. All glassware, syringes, and NMR tubes were oven dried (140° C.) for more than 24 hours before they were transferred into the glove box for use. All other reagents were purchased from commercial sources and were used as received. All NMR experiments were performed using a Bruker Avance 400 MHz NMR spectrometer.

Example 1 Preparation of p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate

p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate: 2.34 g (10 mmol) p-iodoanisole was dissolved in 90 mL of glacial acetic acid. The solution was stirred, heated to 40° C. and 13.6 g (110 mmol) sodium perborate tetrahydrate was added gradually over an hour. The reaction mixture was kept at 40° C. for 8 hours before being cooled to room temperature. Half of the acetic acid (˜45 mL) was removed and 100 mL of D.I. water was added. 3×40 mL dichloromethane was used to extract the aqueous solution. The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and solvent was evaporated to give 2.25 g (64%) of p-methoxyiodonium diacetate, which was dried in vacuo and used without further purification. o-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate (65%), m-cyanohenyliodonium diacetate (70%), m-trifluoromethyliodnium diacetate (80%), and 2,6-dimethoxyphenyliodoniu diacetate (83%) were synthesized using a similar procedure from corresponding iodoarenes.

Example 2 Preparation of bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate

Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate: Under N₂ protection, 1.41 g (4 mmol) p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate was dissolved in 30 mL of dry dichloromethane and the solution was cooled to −30° C. 0.61 mL (8 mmol) of trifluoroacetic acid was added and the solution was slowly brought back to room temperature and stirred for 30 minutes. The solution was, again, cooled to −30° C. and 0.44 mL (4 mmol) anisole was added slowly and the mixture was warmed back up to room temperature and stirred for 1 hour. The solvent was evaporated and the residual solid was recrystallized from diethylether/dichloromethane to give 1.53 g bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate (71%).

Example 3 Preparation of Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylate

Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylate: Under N₂ protection, 352 mg (1 mmol) p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate was dissolved in 1.5 mL of dry acetonitrile. The solution was combined with a solution of 190 mg (1 mmol) tosylic acid monohydrate in 1.5 mL of dry acetonitrile. After addition of 0.11 mL (1 mmol) p-iodoanisole, the mixture was allowed to react at room temperature for 2 hours. The solvent was then removed and the remaining solid was recrystallized from diethylether/dichloromethane to give 422 mg bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylate (82%).

Example 4 Preparation of Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate

Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate: Under N₂ protection, 352 mg (1 mmol) p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate was dissolved in 1.5 mL of dry acetonitrile. The solution was combined with a solution of 190 mg (1 mmol) tosylic acid monohydrate in 1.5 mL of dry acetonitrile. After addition of 0.11 mL (1 mmol) p-iodoanisole, the mixture was allowed to react at room temperature for 2 hours. 10 mL of water was added to the reaction mixture followed by extraction with 3×5 mL hexanes. The water layer was treated with 502 mg (3 mmol) NaPF₆. The white precipitation was taken up in dichloromethane and recrystallization with diethylether/dichloromethane provided 391 mg bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate (80.5%).

Example 5 Preparation of Phenyl-4-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

Phenyl-4-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was synthesized according to the procedure described for the synthesis of bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate from the corresponding aryliodonium diacetate and anisole. (77.9%)

Example 6 Preparation of 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was synthesized according to the procedure described for the synthesis of bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate from the corresponding aryliodonium diacetate and anisole. (83.3%)

Example 7 Preparation of 3-cyanophenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

3-cyanophenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was synthesized according to the procedure described for the synthesis of bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate from the corresponding aryliodonium diacetate and anisole. (73.7%)

Example 8 Preparation of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was synthesized according to the procedure described for the synthesis of bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate from the corresponding aryliodonium diacetate and anisole. (96.1%)

Example 9 Preparation of 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

2,6-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was synthesized according to the procedure described for the synthesis of bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate from the corresponding aryliodonium diacetate and anisole. (86%)

Example 10 Preparation of 2-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxylbenzeneethanamine

2-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxylbenzeneethanamine: Bromine (1.1 mL, 22 mmol) in acetic acid (10 mL) was slowly added into a vigorously stirred solution of 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine (3.4 mL, 20 mmol) in 50 mL acetic acid. 2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxylbenzeneethanamine precipitated out after 15 minutes. The mixture was stirred for another two hours, filtered, and washed with dichloromethane 10 mL×3 and petroleum ether 10 mL×3. The resulting solid was taken up in water and the pH was brought to 10 with aqueous KOH solution. Extraction with dichloromethane followed by evaporation of the solvent yielded 4.12 g (78%) 2-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxylbenzeneethanamine. The crude product was dried under dynamic vacuum overnight and used without further purification.

Example 11 Preparation of 2-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxyl-(2-phthalimidoethyl)benzene

2-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxyl-(2-phthalimidoethyl)benzene: 2-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxylbenzeneethanamine (3.5 g 13.2 mmol) was dissolved and stirred in 50 mL dry acetonitrile. 2.14 mL (1.1 equiv) phthaloyl dichloride and 7 mL (3 equiv) Hünig's base were added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. Acetonitrile was then removed, and the remaining product was taken up in dichloromethane and washed with basic water (pH=11). The aqueous wash was extracted with dichloromethane 3×15 mL. The organic fractions were combined and dried over sodium sulfate. Solvent was removed to give the crude product, which was then purified by column chromatography. Calculated yield: 1.8 g (34%).

Example 12 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyltributyltin

3,4-dimethoxyphenyltributyltin: Under N₂ protection, 1.085 g (5 mmol) 4-bromoveratrole and 289 mg (5 mol %) Pd(0)(PPh₃)₄ was dissolved in 15 mL of dry toluene, the solution was transferred into a storage tube equipped with a Teflon Chemcap Seal, and 3.19 g (5 mmol) hexabutylditin was added. The tube was sealed, heated to, and kept at 120° C. for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, and diluted with 15 mL hexane. 15 mL of saturated aqueous KF solution was added and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes followed by filtration through celite. The organic layer was separated; solvent was removed to provide the crude product as a yellow oil. The crude was purified by column chromatography (hexane/dichloromethane 98/2, basic aluminum) to give 1.69 g (79.1%) pure 3,4-dimethoxyphenyltributyltin.

Example 13 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-methylphenyltributyltin

3,4-dimethoxy-2-methylphenyltributyltin was synthesized in a similar fashion as described in the procedure for the synthesis of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyltributyltin from the corresponding bromo precursor. (76.2%)

Example 14 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-(2-phthalimido)phenyltributyltin

3,4-dimethoxy-2-(2-phthalimido)phenyltributyltin was synthesized in a similar fashion as described in the procedure for the synthesis of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyltributyltin from the corresponding bromo precursor. (20%)

Example 15 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate: Under N₂ protection, 352 mg (1 mmol) p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate was dissolved in 1.5 mL of dry acetonitrile. The solution was combined with a solution of 190 mg (1 mmol) tosylic acid monohydrate in 1.5 mL of dry acetonitrile. After addition of 427 mg (1 mmol) 3,4-dimethoxyphenyltributyltin, the mixture was allowed to react at room temperature for 2 hours. 10 mL of water was added to the reaction mixture followed by extraction with 3×5 mL hexanes. The water layer was treated with 502 mg (3 mmol) NaPF₆. The white precipitation was taken up in dichloromethane and recrystallization with diethylether/dichloromethane provided 370 mg (71.7%) 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate.

Example 16 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-methylphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

3,4-dimethoxy-2-methylphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was synthesized in a similar fashion as 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate from p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate and the corresponding aryl tin precursor. (75%)

Example 17 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-(2-phthalimidoethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate

3,4-dimethoxy-2-(2-phthalimidoethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate hexafluorophosphate was synthesized in a similar fashion as 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate from p-methoxyphenyliodonium diacetate and the corresponding aryl tin precursor. (55%)

Example 18 Preparation of 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride: Under N₂ protection, 97.2 mg (0.2 mmol) 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate and 17.7 mg (0.95 equiv) anhydrous tetramethylammonium fluoride (TMAF) were dissolved in 1 mL dry acetonitrile. The solvent was removed in vacuo followed by addition of 5 mL of dry benzene. The insoluble TMAPF₆ was removed by filtration; the solvent was again removed in vacuo to give 30.3 mg (42%) 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride.

Example 19 Preparation of Phenyl-4-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

Phenyl-4-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (96%)

Example 20 Preparation of 3-cyanophenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

3-cyanophenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (25%)

Example 21 Preparation of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (56%)

Example 22 Preparation of 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

2,6-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (15%)

Example 23 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (90%)

Example 24 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-methylphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

3,4-dimethoxy-2-methylphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (80%)

Example 25 Preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-(2-phthalimidoethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride

3,4-dimethoxy-2-(2-phthalimidoethyl)phenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride was synthesized in a similar fashion as the procedure described for 2-methoxyphenyl-4′-methoxyphenyliodonium fluoride from corresponding hexafluorophosphate. (45%)

Example 26 Preparation of Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium fluoride

Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium fluoride: To a mixture of 454 mg (1 mmol) Bis(p-methoxyphenyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate and 262 mg (1 mmol) anhydrous TBAF was added 1 mL of dry tetrahydrofuran (THF). The solution was allowed to stand for 1 hour, the white precipitate was collected and washed with 3×0.5 mL THF. Calculated yield: 288.7 mg (802%)

Example 27 Diaryliodonium Fluoride Decomposition

In a glove box, 0.5 mL dry d₆-benzene was added to 0.02 mmol of the diaryliodonium fluoride, the solution/mixture was transferred to a J-Young NMR tube. The tube was heated to and kept at 140° C. for 5-15 minutes. The resulting solution was analyzed by NMR and GC for product determination.

Observed yields of thermal decompositions of the diaryliodonium fluorides prepared above are described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Yield of total fluoro Entry Diaryliodonium fluoride aromatics Yield of ArF Conditions 1

77% (94%)   65% (77%) 57% (80%)   40% (70%) benzene, 140° C., 15 min acetonitrile 140° C., 15 min 2

99% (94%)   43% (38%) 86%* (80%)   43% (38%) benzene, 140°C., 18 min acetonitrile 140° C., 18 min 3

82% (80%)   60% (58%) 49% (48%)   40% (38%) benzene, 140° C., 15 min acetonitrile 140° C., 15 min 4

47% (44%)   34% (32%) 19% (17%)    7% (8%) benzene, 140° C., 15 min acetonitrile 140° C., 15 min 5

91% (88%)   38% (39%) 77% (74%)   30% (28%) benzene, 140°C., 15 min acetonitrile 140° C., 15 min 6

90% (92%)   81% (78%) 78% (82%)   49% (48%) benzene, 140° C., 11 min acetonitrile 140° C., 11 min 7

89% (90%)   78% (77%) 89% (90%)   78% (77%) benzene, 140° C., 5 min acetonitrile 140° C., 5 min 8

95% ( 92%)   67% (76%) 85% (84%)   68% (76%) benzene, 140° C., 10 min acetonitrile 140° C., 10 min 9

80% 80% (no fluoroanisole detected) benzene, 140° C., 15 min 10 

60% 40% benzene, 140° C., 15 min ( ) determined by GC *benzyne chemistry led to the formation of 3-fluoroanisole

Examples 28 Impact of Additional Salts on F-MTEB

The effect of salt present in solution during the decomposition of (3-cyano-5-((2-methylthiazol-4-yl)ethynyl)phenyl)(4-methoxyphenyl)iodonium triflate (Ar-MTEB-OTf) was examined at 90° C. in benzene and acetonitrile. Each solvent was tested in the absence of salt, presence of 1 equivalent of salt, and presence of 2 equivalents of salt. The preparation of each reaction condition is summarized below. A TMAF stock solution of 3.3 mg/mL in dry, degassed acetonitrile was prepared for addition to each reaction tube.

Acetonitrile No Salt

Iodonium triflate precursor (0.004 g, 6.6 μmol) was dissolved in 0.38 mL of dry, degassed acetonitrile, under nitrogen atmosphere, with 18 μL of TMAF (6.6 μmol) stock solution. Next, 0.4 mL of dry, degassed benzene was added to the residue and passed twice through 0.22 μm PTFE membrane filter. The solution was again subjected to vacuum to remove solvent and the remaining residue was dissolved in 0.4 mL of dry, degassed d₃-acetonitrile. The reaction mixture was placed in a silicon oil bath and monitored at 90° C.

Acetonitrile+1 eq. TMAOTf

Under nitrogen atmosphere, iodonium triflate precursor (0.004 g, 6.6 mop was dissolved in 0.38 mL dry, degassed d₃-acetonitrile, and combined with 18 μL of TMAF (6.6 μmol) stock solution. The reaction mixture was placed in silicon oil bath and monitored at 90° C.

Acetonitrile+2 eq. TMAOTf

Under nitrogen atmosphere, iodonium triflate precursor (0.004 g, 6.6 μmol) was dissolved in 0.38 mL dry, degassed d₃-acetonitrile and combined with 18 μL of TMAF (6.6 μmol) stock solution, with a subsequent addition of tetramethylammonium triflate (0.0015 g, 6.6 μmol) to the reaction mixture. The solution was then placed in a silicon oil bath and monitored at 90° C.

Benzene No Salt

Under nitrogen atmosphere, iodonium triflate precursor (0.004 g, 6.6 μmol) was dissolved in 0.38 mL dry degassed acetonitrile and combined with 18 μL of TMAF (6.6 μmol) stock solution. The acetonitrile was removed by vacuum and the remaining residue was redissolved in 0.4 mL dry, degassed d₆-benzene. The solution was passed twice through 0.22 μm PTFE filter, sealed under nitrogen, and monitored in silicon oil bath at 90° C.

Benzene+1 eq. TMAOTf

Under nitrogen atmosphere, iodonium triflate precursor (0.004 g, 6.6 μmol) was dissolved in 0.38 mL dry, degassed acetonitrile and combined with 18 μL of TMAF (6.6 μmol) stock solution. The acetonitrile was removed by vacuum and the remaining residue was redissolved in 0.4 mL dry, degassed d₆-benzene. The reaction mixture was sealed under nitrogen and monitored in silicon oil bath at 90° C.

Benzene+2 eq. TMAOTf

Under nitrogen atmosphere, iodonium triflate precursor (0.004 g, 6.6 μmol) was dissolved in 0.38 mL dry, degassed d₃-acetonitrile and combined with 18 μL of TMAF (6.6 μmol) stock solution, with a subsequent addition of tetramethylammonium triflate (0.0015 g, 6.6 μmol) to the reaction mixture. The acetonitrile was removed by vacuum and the remaining residue was redissolved in 0.4 mL d₆-benzene. The solution was then placed in a silicon oil bath and monitored at 90° C.

The results of these experiments are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is clear that added salt has a large negative impact on the yield of the reaction in acetonitrile, but not as significant an impact on the results for the decomposition reaction performed in the nonpolar solvent benzene. This latter result may be due to the fact that TMAOTf is only sparingly soluble in benzene.

Example 29 Fluorination of Radiofluorination of MTEB Under Conventional Conditions

For each reaction the iodonium precursor Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) was dissolvent in 300 μL of either acetonitrile, DMF, or DMSO.

Preparation of Kryptofix 222/K₂CO₃ ¹⁸F source: A mixture of 50-100 μL of [¹⁸O]H₂O with [¹⁸F]fluoride+15 μL of 1 M K₂CO₃ (aq)+800 μL CH₃CN was heated for 3 minutes in a microwave cell at 20 W. The mixture was treated with 800 μL of CH₃CN and heated again. Excess solvent was removed under a stream of dry nitrogen at 80° C.

Run 1: A solution of Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) in 300 μL DMF was added to the dried Kryptofix 222/K₂CO₃K¹⁸F source and heated in a microwave (50 W, 1.5 min). No detectable radiolabeled MTEB was seen by radio-TLC. Additional microwave heating for 3 or 6 minutes resulted in no ¹⁸F-MTEB.

Run 2: A solution of Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) in 300 μL DMSO was added to the dried Kryptofix 222/K₂CO₃K¹⁸F source and heated in a conventional oil bath at 120° C. for 15 minutes. No detectable radiolabeled MTEB was seen by radio-TLC. Further heating for 15 or 30 minutes resulted in the formation of no detectable ¹⁸F-MTEB.

For runs 3 and 4, a solution of [¹⁸F]TBAF was prepared by addition of TBAOH to the [¹⁸O]H₂O solution containing [¹⁸F]fluoride. Drying was performed in vacuo. The resulting solid was treated with 800 μL of CH₃CN and dried by heating to 80° C. under a stream of dry nitrogen.

Run 3: A solution of Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) in 300 μL DMF was added to the [¹⁸F]TBAF and heated in at 150° C. oil bath for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and one hour. No detectable radiolabeled MTEB was seen by radio-TLC.

Run 6: A solution of Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) in 300 μL DMSO was added to the [¹⁸F]TBAF and heated in at 120° C. oil bath for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and one hour. A yield of 6.3% of radiolabeled MTEB was seen by radio-TLC.

Example 30 Preparation of ¹⁸F-MTEB with Salt Removal

[¹⁸F]TBAF was dried twice with MeCN at 90° C. under reduced pressure (−10 mmHg). Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) was dissolved in MeCN (300 μL) and added to the vial containing the dried [¹⁸F]TBAF. The reaction mixture was stirred at 90° C. and the MeCN was evaporated under reduced pressure (−10 mm Hg). The remaining residue was re-dissolved in 2 mL of dry benzene, passed through 0.22-mm syringe filter, and heated to 100° C. for 20 minutes (radiochemical yield (RCY)=ca 70%, determined by radio-HPLC and radio-TLC)

Example 31 Preparation of ¹⁸F-MTEB with Salt Removal

[¹⁸F]TBAF was dried twice with MeCN at 90° C. under reduced pressure (−10 mmHg). Ar-MTEB-OTf (2 mg) was dissolved in MeCN (300 μL) and added to the vial containing the dried [¹⁸F]TBAF. The reaction mixture was stirred at 90° C. and the MeCN was evaporated under reduced pressure (−10 mm Hg). The remaining residue was re-dissolved in 2 mL of dry benzene, passed through 0.22-mm syringe filter, and heated to 130° C. for 20 minutes (radiochemical yield (RCY)=ca 90%, determined by radio-HPLC and radio-TLC)

Example 32 Preparation of [¹⁸R]-6-Fluoro-L-DOPA

Ar-LDOPA-OTf (2 mg) is dissolved in 300 μL of dry acetonitrile and added to a vial containing dry [¹⁸F]TBAF. The solution is warmed to 90° C. and the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. Dry toluene (500 μL) is added to the residue and the solution is passed through a 0.22 μm PTFE membrane filter and heated (in a sealed vessel) to 130° C. for 20 minutes. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the residue is treated with 48% HBr (500 μL) and heated at 140° C. for 8 minutes to remove the protecting groups. The [¹⁸F]-6-Fluoro-L-DOPA is purified by reverse phase chromatography.

Example 33 General Procedure for the Preparation of Fluorinated Aryl Amino Acids and Their Derivatives

The appropriate (4-methoxyphenyl)aryliodonium triflate (2-3 mg) is dissolved in 300 μL of dry acetonitrile and added to a vial containing dry [¹⁸F]TBAF. The solution is warmed to 90° C. and the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. Dry toluene or benzene (500 μL) is added to the residue and the solution is passed through a 0.22 μm PTFE membrane filter and heated (in a sealed vessel) to 130° C. for 20 minutes. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the residue is treated with 48% HBr (500 μL) and heated at 140° C. for 8 minutes to remove the protecting groups. The [¹⁸F]-fluorinated aryl amino acid or derivative is purified by reverse phase chromatography.

Example 34 Preparation of 6-Fluoro-L-DOPA

The precursor Ar-LDOPA-OTf (20 mg) was dissolved in 0.7 mL of dry CD₃CN and treated with one equivalent of TMAF. The solvent was removed and the residue was dissolved in 0.7 mL of d₆-benzene, placed in an NMR tube equipped with a PTFE valve, and heated to 140° C. for 20 minutes. ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra (FIGS. 3 and 4) indicated that the yield of the reaction was 85% and that the yield of 4-fluoroanisole was approximately 1%.

Example 35 Deprotection of 6-Fluoro-L-DOPA

The solvent was removed from the reaction mixture containing crude 6-fluoro-L-DOPA (Example 34). The residue was dissolved in 1 mL of 48% aqueous HBr and the solution was heated to 140° C. for 10 minutes. The solution was neutralized with sodium bicarbonate and the water was evaporated. ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra (D₂O) were identical to the authentic standard, as was confirmed by adding independently obtained 6-fluoro-L-DOPA to the NMR tube.

Example 36 Contaminant Salts Removed by Size Exclusion Chromatography

To demonstrate the efficacy of this size exclusion chromatography, the following procedure was utilized. A Jordi Gel DVB 100 Å column (250 mm) was equilibrated with acetonitrile for 30 minutes prior to injection. Acetonitrile solutions of tris(neopentyl)methylammonium tosylate and bis(4-methoxyphenyl)iodonium fluoride were prepared (1 mg/mL) and the two solutions were mixed together and stirred for 5 minutes. A 10 μL aliquot of the mixed solution was injected for analysis into the Jordi Gel column. The mixture was separated via size-exclusion chromatography under a pressure of 1500 psi, flow rate of 0.7 mL/min, and followed by UV detection.

Following elution, bis(4-methoxyphenyl)iodonium fluoride showed a retention time of 10.26 minutes tris(neopentyl)methylammonium tosylate showed a retention time of 11.87 minutes. The identity of the eluted materials was confirmed by matching the retention times to those of purified standards.

The HPLC chromatogram demonstrates that the tetraalkylammonium tosylates can be removed cleanly from diaryliodonium fluorides using this technique. It should be emphasized that this is a particularly challenging example of a separation, since this chromatographic technique works by differentiating the solutes in terms of their overall size. Here the diaryliodonium salt is only slightly larger than the tetraalkylammonium tosylate contaminant. In order to synthesize radiotracers from diaryliodonium salts, the precursors of interest will be significantly larger than in the example given here, and the competing anions will generally be smaller than tosylate.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for making a compound of Formula (3): Ar²—F  3 wherein: Ar² is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl ring system; and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine; the method comprising: a) first reacting in a polar solvent a compound MF, wherein M is a counter ion, and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine; and a compound of Formula (2):

wherein: Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl ring system; Y is a leaving group; and Ar² is as defined above; b) removing contaminant salts from the solution comprising the reaction product of MF and the compound of Formula (2) of step a) by chromatography; and c) heating the eluted solution of step b) comprising the reaction product of MF and the compound of Formula (2) of step a) to prepare the compound of Formula (3).
 2. A method for making a compound of Formula (3): Ar²—F  3 wherein: F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine; Ar² is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl ring system; and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine; the method comprising: a) first reacting in a nonpolar solvent a compound MF, wherein M is a counter ion, and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine; and a compound of Formula (2):

wherein: Ar¹ is an electron rich aryl ring system; Y is a leaving group; and Ar² is as defined above; b) removing contaminant salts from the solution comprising the reaction product of MF and the compound of Formula (2) of step a) by chromatography; and c) heating the eluted solution of step b) comprising the reaction product of MF and the compound of Formula (2) of step a) to prepare the compound of Formula (3).
 3. The method claim 1 or 2, wherein Ar¹ is substituted with at least one substituent having a Hammett σ_(p) value of less than zero.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the substituent is selected from the group consisting of —(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —(C₁-C₁₀)haloalkyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkynyl; —O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl.
 5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein Ar¹ and Ar² are the same.
 6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein Ar¹ is:

wherein: R¹, R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ are independently selected from the group consisting of : H, —(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —(C₁-C₁₀)haloalkyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂-C₁₀)alkynyl, —O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, or two or more of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ come together to form a fused aryl or heteroaryl ring system.
 7. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein Ar² is selected from the group consisting of: a phenylalanine, tyrosine, and an estradiol.
 8. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein Ar² is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein: each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, P⁴ and P⁷ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the nonpolar solvent is selected from the group consisting of: benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethyl benzene, carbon tetrachloride, hexane, cyclohexane, fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, and mixtures thereof.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nonpolar solvent comprises benzene.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the nonpolar solvent comprises toluene.
 12. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating comprises heating at a temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 250° C.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the heating occurs for from about 1 second to about 25 minutes.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the heating is accomplished by a flash pyrolysis method, a conventional heating method, or by a microwave method.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of: acetonitrile, acetone, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, 1,2-difluorobenzene, benzotrifluoride and mixtures thereof.
 16. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of triflate, mesylate, nonaflate, hexaflate, tosylate, nosylate, brosylate, perfluoroalkyl sulfonate, tetraphenylborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, tetrafluoroborate, perchlorate, perfluoroalkylcarboxylate, chloride, bromide, and iodide.
 17. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of: potassium, sodium, cesium, complexes of lithium, sodium, potassium, or cesium with cryptands or crown ethers, tetrasubstituted ammonium cations, and phosphonium cations.
 18. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (2) is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein: each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group.
 19. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (3) is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein: each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group; and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine.
 20. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (2) is selected from the group consisting of:


21. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (3) is selected from the group consisting of:

and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine.
 22. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (2) is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein: each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group.
 23. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (3) is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein: each of P³ and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group.
 24. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (2) is:

wherein: each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; and P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the compound of Formula (2) is:


26. The method of claim 24, wherein the compound of Formula (2) is:


27. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (3) is:

wherein: each of P¹ and P² are independently a nitrogen protecting group, or P¹ and P² come together to form a single nitrogen protecting group; each of P³, and P⁴ are independently an alcohol protecting group, or P³ and P⁴ come together to form a single oxygen protecting group; P⁵ is a carboxylic acid protecting group; and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the compound of Formula (3) is:

and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine.
 29. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound of Formula (3) is:

and F is a radioactive isotope of fluorine.
 30. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the chromatography is size exclusion chromatography. 